Apparatus for extruding matter



Jan. 20, 1931. .1. E. BoYNToN 1,789,457

APPARATUS FOR EXTR'JUING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 22, 1.925 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1931. J. BoYNToN 1,789,457

APPARATUS FOR EXTRUDING MATTER Original Filed Dec. 22', 1925 3Sheets-Sheet 2 @g2 Jan. 20, 1931. J. E. BoYNToN 1,789,457

APPARATUS FOR EXTRUDING MATTER Original Filed Deo. 22. 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 5 E In 5 by Am?.

Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE JOHN EDSON BOYNTON,OF OAK PAEX, ILLINOIS,l ASSIGNOB T0 WESTERN ELEC- TRIC COMPANY,INCORPORATED, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK APPARATUSFOB EXTBUDING MATTER Original application filed December 22, 1925,Serial No. 76,954. Divided and this application led lay 31, 1929. SerialNo. 367,204.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for extrudingmatter, and more particularly to an apparatus for extruding metals, andis a division of my copending ap- An object of the invention is toprovide improved means `for preventing leakage between joined portionsof apparatus employing very high pressures.

In its preferred form the invention comprises improvements in theextruding machine described in detail in my copending application,Serial No. 711,763, filed May 8, 1924 and issued July 16, 1929 as Patent1,720,759.

A feature of the invention is an improved mechanical constructionwherein the cylinders of the pump which are employed to pump the liquidmatter in such a manner as to force a head of solid matter through anextruding orifice, are formed in a single casting or forging to allowfor the passage of the matter to be extruded. A recess in the jointurebetween the member referred to and the head member allows the insertionof a pipe for the circulation of a #cooling element such as air orwater, the matter extruded being solidified by this means to preventleakage thereof through the oint made by the two members.

'lhe intake passage for admitting extrudable matter to each pump isprovided with an improved inta-ke valve wherein a valve member isprovided of lighter Weight than an equal volume of the matter extruded,the valve member being thereby adapted to ioat to its seat to close theintake passage. The seat is provided within a member having a portion ofcylindrical cross section, the. lower portion thereof having awedge-like or feathered edge. A conical gland is provided having a portto permit passage of matter therethrough so that the member ofcylindrical cross section may be forced with a wedge-like action betweenthe gland and the side walls of the passageway to which the valve isadapted to supply matter.

Other objects and features of the invention tion progresses, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a sideelevation, partly in section,

of an extruding machine embodying the features of the invention, part ofthe view being cut away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of that portion of the apparatusof Fig. 1 which has been cut away and shows one embodiment of apparatusfor maintaining adeinite predetermined temperature in a portion of theextruding machine;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a modified form of apparatus formaintaining a definite predetermined temperature such as would be takenon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 if the ap aratus were constructed to employthe modi ed type of apparatus;

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal central sectional view of the modifiedapparatus shown in Fig. 3, the section being taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve for controlling thevolume of liquid admitted into the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shownin section in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings wherein like numeralsdesignate similar members throughout the several views, the referencenumeral 10 designates a base plate upon which is mounted the mechanismof an improved extruding machine embodying the main features of theinvention. The

main details of the mechanism together with will become apparent as thedetailed descrip-'anism shown in Fig. 1 will now be given. A

standard 11 is held in spaced relation to a cylinder member 12 by aluralty of spacingr rods 13 and tie rods-14, t e cylinder member 12'andthe standard 11 being held in an upright position by suitable means suchas bolts l5-15. A shaft 17 leading to a suitable source of power (notshown) distributes the power evenly to a plurality of other shafts 18the matter into the extruding chamber. A

check valve 31 in each one of the ducts 30 prevents a back iow ofextrudable matter and a valve member 32, which will be described more indetail hereinafter, permits a iiow of the matter such as molten lead orlead alloy from a suitable source through suitable ducts to the ducts30. A head member 33 is secured by suitable means to the cylinder member12,

an aperture being provided in the jointure to permit the insertion of lapipe 34 through which temperature regulating fluid may be l passed forthe purpose of solidifying any portions of the matter being extrudedwhich may be forced within the joint between the two members, to preventleakage therethrough. The head member 33.is provided with an annularpassage 35, which forms the main extrusion chamber of the machine, and acore tube assembly designated generally by the numeral 36 extends intothe chamber 35 and cooperates with a die member 37 which is secured tothe head member 33 by a die holding nut 38 and may be adjustedlongitudinally by a die block 39 to shape the material -being extruded.

The mechanism is particularly adapted to the extrusion of lead or othersimilar metals or alloys which melt at a comparatively low temperature.As described in Patent 1,7 20,- 759 referred to above, the material ispumped continuously in a liquid state and then solidiied while in theextrusion chamber 35, the material being forced out through an extrusionopening 1n the form of a solid. When employing the extruding mechanismfor this purpose it may be desirable to provide means whereby the headmember 33 together with a portion of the material contained therein maybe maintained at a definite predetermined temperature.

A structure is shown in Fig. 2 by means of which this can beaccomplished, this structure being adapted for use where the jheadmember 33 is analogous in structure to the form thereof shown 1n sectionin Fig. 1. In this portion 'of the structure containers 40 jigsaw? and140 surround the extruding head 33 and are ada ted to contain a liquidwith which the hea member of the extruding mechanism will be cooled. Acondenser designated generally by the numeral 41 surmounts thecontainers 40 and 140 and is adapted to condense vapors arising fromsaid containers by means of a plurality of ducts 42 extending obliquelythrough a condenser chamber 43, the ducts 42 bein cooled by thecirculation therethrough o a suitable cooling liquid. A passagewa 45 isprovided from the containers 40 an 140 and to the condenser chamber 43for the purpose of permitting vapors arising from said containers toenter the condenser chamber, and a bifurcated pipe 46 is suitablyositioned with respect to the condenser c amber to conduct the condensedvapor back to the containers 40 and 140. -An L-shaped chamber 47partially encloses the condenser chamber 43, the ducts 42 extending fromone portion of the L-shaped chamber to another and being incommunication therewith, there being, however, no interconnectionbetween the condenser chamber 43 and the L-shaped chamber 47 such as topermit liquid contained in the chamber 47 actually entering the chamber43 but only into the ducts 42. A vapor passagewa 50 permits discharge ofvapor member 47 and an indicator glass 51 suit,

ably mounted with respect to the chamber indicates the amount of liquidcontained therein.

4The operation of the cooling mechanism described above is briefly asfollows: Either or both of the containers 40 and 140 are. filled to asuitable hei ht with a liquid, the boiling point of which bears apredetermined relationship to, or may possibly coincide eX- actly with,the temperature sought to be maintained within the head member 33 whichis substantially the temperature at which the lead or other materialwill be extruded. The flow of hot extrudable matter through the chamber35 causes a heating of the head member 33, the consequent boiling of theliquid within the containers 40 and 140 and the vaporization of aportion thereof, the resulting vapor arising into'the condenser chamber43. The uncondensed portion of the liquid within the containers 40 and140 is prevented from exceeding the boiling temperature thereof by theliberation of the latent heat required for the vaporization of portionsof the liquid. The vapor arising into the chamber 43 strikes against therelatively cool ducts 42 and is condensed, the resulting condensateflowing along the exteriors of the ducts 42 and being conducted again tothe containers 40 and 140 in the original form of liquid through thepipe 46. The liquid contained within the L-shaped chamber' 47 and theducts 42 is preferably one that boils at a considerably lowertemperature than the liquid within the containers and 140, and the heatrequired for the vaporization of this liquid can be employed to keep itat a sulliciently low temperature so that it will act to condense thevapor arising from theihigher boiling point liquid.

lVhen employing the extruding machine for the purpose of covering cablecores with a sheath of lead-antimony alloy, the liquid used in thecontainers 40 and 140 may be nitro-benzol, benzyl-alcohol,ethyl-benzoate or any similar liquid which boils at approximately thetemperature desired to be maintained. The liquid utilized in theL-shaped chamber 47 may be water. l-Vhen employing two liquids havingdifferent boiling temperatures with the construction shown and for thepurpose indicated, substantially atmospheric pressures can be maintainedthroughout the whole cooling system, the cooling effect being obtainedsolely by utilizing the heat of vaporization of the two liquids.

lVhen employing a mechanism of the class described for the purpose ofextruding metals or such other materials as must be handled under highpressures, it is necessary to prevent leakage in places where portionsof the mechanism arejoined together. In the extruding mechanismdescribed in Patent 1,720,759, referred to above and in the improvedform thereof which is the subject matter of the present invention, it isparticularly desirable that the intake passage and the check valveassociated therewith be of such a nature as to positively preventleakage therearound or back flow into the source of supply of the matterbeing handled. Figs. 6 and 7 show enlarged views of the valvularmemberreferred to above and generally designated in Fig. 1 by the numeral 32.A member 55, a portion of which has substantially cylindricalconformation, is provided with a lower portion, individual `sectionsalong the wall of which lower portion are wedge-like in shape. A glandmember 56 having ports 60 cooperates with the side wall of a recess in aportion of the cylinder member 12 to which the intake passage leads, toform a circular crevice into which the lower portion of the member isadapted to extend. The member 55 is preliminarily brought into positionby means of bolts 57. A valvular member 58, which is :hewn in theaccompanying drawings as a sphere, cooperates with a seat 59 to form avalve by means of which the flow of liquid matter to the mechanism maybe controlled. A threaded portion of the member 61 permits a pipe 62 tobe secured thereto, the pipe 62 (Fig. 1) leading to a suitable source ofsupply of liquid matter (not shown).

As shown in the accompanying drawing (Figs. 6 and 7), when the member 55is brought into tight engagement between the gland 56 and the walls ofthe ducts-in the cylinder member 12, whatever pressure is built upWithin the bore 30 which constitutes' 'Ill the associated parts iscloser and any movey ment of gland 56 which may occur will increase theeffectiveness of the seal. In this manner the force employed to extrudethe matter is utilized to prevent leakage thereof. The action of thevalvular member 58 is such that when the piston 27 is withdrawn on itsreturn stroke the valvular member will drop to the tip of the gland 56as shown in a solid line position in Fig. 6. This permits downwardpassage of matter around the valvular member 58 and through the ports6() in the gland 56. When the piston 27 begins its forward stroke thevalvular member 58, being of steel or other material lighter than lead,will float to its seat 59 and whatever pressure is built up within theport 30 forces it more` tightly against its seat until the return strokeof the piston 27.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings show a modified form ofmechanism by means of which the heat of vaporization of a liquid may beutilized to maintain selected portions of the extruding mechanism at apredetermined temperature. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, thereference numeral 65 designates a head member of an eXtruding mechanismcorresponding to the member 33 as shown in Fig. 1. The member 65 isprovided with a recess in which the core tube assembly 36 may becontained and the member 65 may be secured to the cylinder member 12 bysuitable means, a temperature controlling pipe 34 being provided for thepurpose of preventing leakage as described above. A chamber in themember 65 surmo-unted by a donie 71, which is integral therewith, isadapted to contain a liquid which is utilized to cool the head member65, the dome 71 functioning to receive the vapor arising from the liquidcontained in the chamber 70. The temperature of the liquid containedwithin the chamber 7() is regulated by controlling the pressuremaintained within the dome 71, a valve 75 being regulable to permit theexhaust of vapor from the dome 7l when the pressure therein is beyond apredetermined amonnt, and a pressure gauge 76 is provided to furnish theoperator with means for learning the pressure condition within the do-me71.

Since the chamber 7 O is maintained at the temperature desired byemploying the heat of vaporization of liquid contained therein, itbecomes necessary to resupply it with liquid, and it is furthermoredesirable that the liquid be maintained at a definite and uniform level.Duplicate mechanism is shown lll' in the accompanying drawings foraccomplishing this purpose, but since the two units areidentical, forthe purpose of simplifying the description, they will be described as a"ingle unit. An auxiliary tank is positioned above the chamber 70 and isadapted to contain a reserve supply of the liquid which is employed, apipe 81 communicating therewith and leading to a source of supply of theliquid (not shown), and a valve 82 being provided therein to discontinueor permit the flow of liquid from the source of suply into the auxiliarytank' 8O as desired. guitable means is provided such as an indicatorglass 85 for the purpose of readily showing the amount of liquid -Withinthe auxiliary tank. A pipe 86 equipped with a valve 87 leads to a valvechamber 88 partly positioned within the dome 71 and a valve stem 90(Figs. 4 and 5) which is actuated by a float 91 in cooperation with anarm 92 which is loosely pivoted at 93 cooperates with the valve to stopthe flow of liquid from the auxiliary tank 80 to the chamber 7 0 in amanner and for a purpose which will be described more in detailVhereinafter. A vapor transmitting pipe 95 'communicating with the upperportion of the tank 80, is provided with a valve 96 and terminates in -avalve chamber 97 which valve chamber is partially within the dome 71 andcooperates with a valve stem 98 which is controlled by the action of thearm 92 is described to close or open, as the case may be, the vaporpassageway.

The mechanism functions in the following manner: When the level of theliquid within the chamber 70 is lowered, the float 91 is permitted todrop gravitationally and raise the valve stem 98 to permit the vaporpressure within the dome 71 to be extended to the upper portion of theauxiliary tank 80 through the pipe 95. This creates a pressure above theliquid within the auxiliary tank 80 whlch corresponds with that abovethe liquid within the chamber 70. At the same time the valve stem 90 islowered, thereby permitting a flow of liquid from the tank 8O throughthe pipe 86, this being accomplished by gravity since the pressureswithin the tank and chamber have now become equalized. When the liquidhas reached its proper level the raising of the float 91 causes aseating of the two valves, thus discontinuing all communication betweenthe auxiliary tank and the chamber 7 0. When it is necessary toreplenish the liquid in the auxiliary tank 80 the valves 87 and 96leading to one of the units are closed and a supply of liquidadmittedthrough the pipe 81 by opening the valve 82. When the liquid hasreached a sulicient height as indicated in the Glass 85, the valve 82 isclosed and the valves 8177 and 96 reopened whereupon the unit is againin conditlon to function as described. It is obvious thatv while theliquid is bein replenished inA tank 80 of one of the units t e op osinunit will function for the purpose an e int e manner described. It isapparent. that any suitable liquid ma be used when employing a mechanismem odying the features described, but on account of the cheapness'andready accessibility of water, this liquid is preferred. Although goodresults may be obtained by employing the device with any class ofextruding apparatus, particularly good results are obtained by utilizingit with the apparatus for producing flux core solder described 1n mycopending application, Serial No. 18,133, filed March 25, 1925 andissued December 31, 1929 as Patent 1,741,813.

When employing either type of cooling device utilizing the heat ofvaporization; namely, either the device disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 orthe embodiment shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it may be desirable forelicient operation of extruding machines to provide means for coolingthe lead or other extrudable matter within the region of the die. Toaccomplish this result the die positioning member 39 may be formed withan annular chamber designated in the drawings by the numeral 139 for thepurpose of introducing cooling material at this point. The materialintroduced may vary depending upon the specific results desired Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and the materialintroduced therein may be either circulated or permitted to vaporize asdesired and consonant with the results to be obtained. It is preferableto employ water in the annular chamber 139 and maintain the waterconstantly at the boiling temperature by utilizing the heat ofvaporization in the manner described in connection with the other.portions of the mechanism. Any suitable inlets or outlets (not shown)may be provided, of course, to introduce the cooling material into theannular chamber.

When employing the improved extruding machine, which is the subjectmatter of the present invention, it is preferable that molten lead'orother extrudable matter be introduced into the cylinders at atemperature only slightly above the melting temperature thereof so thatthe lead will have. to be cooled only a slight amount before solidcationbefore it is discharged from' the extruding orifice. It is alsodesirable that the temperature of the lead be closely regulated so thattoo large a body of solid lead will not exist in the extrudingv chamber35 because obviously the power required in the extruding operation isgreatly increased when the volume of solid lead is increased. Theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is of particular utility for thisreason because the three places in which cooling material can beintroduced, namel the containers 40 and 140 and the annular c amber'139in the die positioning member 39, can

be used in a number of ways. For instance, liquids having differentboiling points may be used in each one of the three containers in whichevent, of course, where a condenser is employed a different condenserwould have to be used in connection with each one of the containers. Atother times, particularly when starting the machine, either one or allof the containers 40 or 140 or the annular chamber 139 may be drained inorder to more accurately control the temperature of the lead or u It isobvious that plurality of cooling means is therefore ap parent.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 only one chamber is shown, butit is obvious that a plurality of chambers of this same generalconstruction could be employed in order to more closely regulate thetemperature of the matter being extruded. Although specific details areshown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is obviousthat these details constitute only one embodiment of applicantsinvention, which is to be limited accordingly only by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for extruding matter, a head member having a chamberprovided with an extruding orifice, a plunger,`means for reciprocatingsaid plunger, a member containing a duct cooperating with said plungerto form a pump for forcing the matter into said chamber and through theorifice, and means for changing the state of the matter within the jointbetween said head member and said second recited member to preventleakage of said matter through said joint.

2. In a machine for extruding matter, a. head member having a chamberprovided with an extruding orifice, a plurality of plungers, a membercontaining a plurality of ducts adapted to cooperate with the plungersto form pumps, means for associating the head member with the membercontaining a plurality of ducts, means for reciprocating the plungers toforce the matter into the chamber and through the extruding orifice, andmeans for changing the state of the mat- A ter within the joint betweenthe head member and the member containing a plurality of ducts toprevent leakage of the matter through the joint.

3. In a machine for extruding matter, a pair of parts in abuttingrelation having channels through which molten matter is forced, andmeans associated with said parts containing a cooling medium forsolidifying matter forced between said parts to effect a seal againstthe leakage of matter.

4. In an extrusion machine, a pair of abutting parts forming a channelfor the passage of fused matter to be extruded, the adjacent faces ofsaid parts being formed with grooves, and a conduit mounted in saidgrooves for the circulation of a cooling fluid to solidify the fusedmatter passing between said parts to thereby effect a seal against theleakage of the matter.

5. In a machine for extruding matter,'a container for molten matterunder pressure comprising two members contiguously placed and forming ajoint therebetween, and means for cooling the joint to solidify mattertherein and thereby prevent leakage of the matter through the joint.

6. In a machine for extruding matter, a container for molten mattercomprising two members contiguously placed and forming a jointtherebetween, and means for circulating a cooling medium ad'acent thejoint to solidify matter therein an prevent leakage of the matterthrough the 'oint'.

7 In an extruding mac ine, a plurality of parts cooperating to form acontainer for fused matter under pressure, said parts being disposed inabutting relation thereby forming a joint between adjacent parts, andmeans for maintaining a portion of the joint below the melting point ofthe fused matter to thereby solidify the fused matter passing throughsaid joint and form a seal against further leakage. v

8. n a cable extrusion press, a contamer for molten metal comprising twomembers i conti ously placed and forming a joint there etween, theadjacent surfaces of said members being provided with an yannulargroove, and a conduit for cooling liquid positioned in said groove anddesigned to maintain a portion of the joint adjacent the groove belowthe melting point of the molten metal to thereby seal the joint againstleakage. A

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22nd day of May,A. D. 1929. JOHN EDSON BOYNTON.-

